The Monk and The Butterfly - 60 Beautiful Stories of Zen: Embracing Mindfulness, Inner Peace, and Personal Growth, A Journey Through Change and Letting Go

by Kai T. Murano

In the quiet of an ancient forest, a simple encounter between a monk and a butterfly unfolds into a profound lesson on living. "The Monk and the Butterfly" is not just a story; it's a doorway to a world where every moment is a revelation, and mindfulness is as natural as breathing.This collection of 60 Zen stories weaves the timeless wisdom of Zen Buddhism with the art of living mindfully in the modern world. Through the lens of Monk Liang’s journey and his lessons from the natural world, readers are invited to explore the depths of mindfulness, inner peace, and personal transformation.

Imagine experiencing life with the clarity and peace of a Zen monk. "The Monk and the Butterfly" serves as your practical guide, offering insights positive thinking to navigate life's ups and downsCultivating inner peace through mindfulness and meditationAchieving spiritual growth and personal transformation on your termsEach story is a stepping stone on the path toward a deeper connection with yourself and the world around you, enriched with Zen practices that are both ancient and urgently relevant.

Embark on a transformative journey with "The Monk and the Butterfly." Whether you’re seeking to deepen your meditation practice or find joy in the simplicity of being, let this book be your guide to a more mindful, peaceful, and fulfilling life. Embrace the lessons of Zen and discover the beauty of living in the present.

Click "Buy Now" and unlock the secrets to a life of mindfulness and serenity—your path to personal transformation begins here.

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 4, 2024

Reviews

[Totos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely collection of Zen stories. We read this in book club and enjoyed talking about them soooo much it was delightful

[Tim Cann · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the casual reader like myself, Zen Buddhism always had a mysterious air around it that had been conferred by Western popular culture. Indeed, upon studying a little about conventional Buddhism, I learned that its distant cousin Zen was full of bizarre poetry designed to teach inscrutable concepts, as well as stern and imposing teachers. It seemed somewhat intimidating to me.

This slim volume is designed to dispel any such notions. The book has ten chapters, one for each of ten concepts, and it relates each of those concepts to six stories, summarizing each story at the end of the chapter by explaining how the story relates to the concept. This book takes the old public speaking advice of "Tell them what you're going to say, say it, and then tell them what you said" to heart, and does it in language that is accessible to modern readers.

While I found most the stories in this book to be more about Buddhism in general, a few of them did discuss the concept of mindfulness that is more related to Zen than to other types of Buddhism. I consider this a strength of the book, since other books on Zen seemed to focus on mindfulness, sometimes to a fault.

Many of these stories are about recognizing principles of Buddhism in natural phenomena. Others are related to drinking tea or brewing it. Therefore, it seems to me like a good book to read before or after spending some time in nature, or with a cup of tea. No cream or sugar for monks, however.

[Bryan Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking for a book that assembled many Buddhist parables in one place, which doesn’t seem to exist. What I found was a repetitive, dull retelling of “stories” that had basic lessons. The book felt lazy. I appreciate that the author was trying to demonstrate the art of zen in all its forms, but the stories were not memorable or impactful.

[Síona Worrall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really wanted to like this and the first few stories were delightful. Then the next … who knows how many were a rehashing of the exact same concept in a slightly different context with different characters. Like repetitive scooby doo episodes but in zen style. Very peculiar. Gave up in the end it became tedious. Did not finish.

[Alan Laidlaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely excellent series of short tales and stories of good Buddhist stories, each with a learning points summary at the end

Each of the stories are uplifting and happy
Great for relaxing the mind before bedtime

[Ommiolgi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable collection of stories providing an opportunity to approach Zen in a easy way. i found it a little basic but to someone unfamiliar with Zen it would be a fairly succinct introduction. Great for young people.

i would recommend this book to most.

[Lana Gillis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

The stories and drawings were all beautiful. I enjoyed the introductions to each new topic, as well as the summary at the end. It's very well written, easy to understand and inspiring.

[Amy Duong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reminder to be present and find the peace in everyday life.

[Thomas Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Direction for Your Journey

Transcendent, life affirming, and changing. Direction for Life's Journey!
New old stories similar to Native American legions and lessons . A must read!.

[Ronald Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can be and and should be read over and over again to strengthen a person

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

inspiring Messages

The more I read like this the more it lets the messages sink in. I look forward to all of Kai’s works.